From February 1917, all divisions were standardised with two artillery brigades each with three batteries (named A, B and C) of six 18-pounders (total 36 per division) and one battery (D) of six 4.5inch howitzers (total 12 per division). Quoting MGRA Fourth Army Major-General Birch's memorandum during the battle. 18-pounder fire was also used to cut enemy barbed-wire obstacles, and high explosive shells to inflict damage on defensive works. Ch. Augustine A Zavala from Texas on May 20, 2011: Fascinating. [65], Other types of shell were also introduced, although not as extensively as they were for howitzers and heavier guns. "Shrapnel Shell Manufacture. Further to this, each section 9two guns) had two additional ammunition limbers towed by their own team. These frigates were built on standard patterns designed by Jacques-Nol San, carrying 26, and later 28 main guns, complemented with smaller pieces on the forecastle. The Ordnance QF 18-pounder, or simply 18-pounder gun, was the standard British Empire field gun of the First World War-era.It formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was produced in large numbers. 21 contains information, drawings, and tables for the 24-Pounder Howitzer on Field Carriage with Limber attached. During World War I this was replaced by a revised formulation that was easier to produce called Cordite RDB.[64]. 159. This impressive gun formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and due to its popularity and reliability, was produced in large numbers. Handbook of the 18 Pounder Field Gun This is the 1913 edition of the British Army Handbook of the 18 Pounder Field Gun of the British and Commonwealth Armies of the Great War of 1914-1919, reprinted with amendments prior to the start of the war in 1914. Terms of Use| Converted existing carriages were designated Mk I*. [11], At the same time,the British Cabinet ordered Field Marshal Lord Roberts, the Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, to send home artillery brigade and battery commanders "selected for their eminence and experience" to form an Equipment Committee. It was used by British and Canadian Forces in all the main theatres, and by British and Canadian troops in Russia in 1919. Please download the PDF to view it: Download PDF. (April 2017) Field guns are one of two primary types of field artillery. 35 were in service in Britain in June 1916[20] and 56 at the end of World War I. Under Louis XVI, from 1779, the 18-pounder gradually became the standard calibre for frigates, starting with the Hb class. The British 18 pounder field gun was first produced in 1904 and became one of Britains mainstay artillery guns during World War One. The 18-pounder long gun was an intermediary calibre piece of naval artillery mounted on warships of the Age of Sail. The book is from the archives of Branch #136 of the Royal Canadian Legion, Milton Ontario Canada. It was later inscribed with the details of the gun and battery from which it was fired, together with the names of the men in the detachment who had fired the shell and the name of . Overall, the total weight of the gun, limber and carriage which amassed to 2 1/2 tons was supported on four wheels! The first trials of high Explosive TNT rounds were fired in October 1914 on the Ypres sector of the front. Civil War Field Artillery Limber- Cannon Plans. "Counter-Battery Work" Artillery Notes No. In 1925, some guns were experimentally fitted on a Medium tank chassis as self-propelled artillery (the "Birch Gun"),[26] the Birch gun was used for the exercises of the Experimental Mechanized Force in 1927-1928. Official History of the Ministry of Munitions Volume X Part III Gun Ammunition: Shell Manufacture, "Artillery in Offensive Operations", Appendix IV, January 1917, "Artillery in Offensive Operations", 13. It is therefore of the first importance that in all cases the infantry must advance right under the field artillery barrage, which must not uncover the first objective until the infantry are within 50 yards of it". By mid-morning obervers were engaging massed German infantry but these pressed forward and reached just east of Hamel. Diagrams of 18 pounder Mk I at Landships website, 1.59-inch Breech-Loading Vickers Q.F. The trials were that successful that from that period on Britain increasingly supplied the 18 Pounder with high-explosive shells. Britain entered World War I with a policy of using shrapnel shells for its field guns ( 13-pounder and 18-pounder ), intended to burst above head-height for anti-personnel use. It was also converted to arm Defensively Armed Merchant Ships (DAMS) so the boats could fight back against U-boat attack during the war. Britain sold 30 Mk 2 guns on Mk 2 carriages with pneumatic tyres to Finland during the Winter War, but they arrived too late to be used during that combat. In early 1915 a number of 18-pounder guns were mounted on pedestals, with the addition of a second recuperator and retaining catch for the cartridge case at high angle, in an attempt to come up with a workable anti-aircraft gun. Gun, Mk II. Range Table for Ordnance QF, 18-pr Mks I to V 2CRH Shrapnel, 4/7.5 CRH HE, 1929, Range Table for Ordnance QF, 18-pr Mks I to IV 2CRH Shrapnel, 4/7.5 CRH HE, 1929, The Official History of the Ministry of Munitions, Volume X, The Supply of Munitions, Part 1 Guns, David Horner, "The Gunners - A History of Australian Artillery", 1995, Chapter 5, Official History of the Ministry of Munitions Volume X Part I pg 7, Official History of the Ministry of Munitions Volume X Part II Gun Ammunition: General. In 1910 the Number 3 Dial Sight, a refined version with a telescope and compass, replaced the goniometer. It also warned "There was tendency, due to trench warfare, among C.R.A.s to attempt to control individual batteries. However, by the end of September 1914 all reserve guns (25% above the establishment entitlements as decided by the Mowat Committee in 1901) had been delivered to France, although new production orders had been placed on the outbreak of war. The makers were called to a conference and agreed to collaborate to produce a composite design. A star shell with a time fuze (No 25) had been developed and small stocks were held before the war but it was not routine issue. During World War I, the 18 pounder was the standard field gun on all fronts and was praised for its lethal effectiveness. 18 POUNDER FIELD GUN M1917 UNITED KINGDOM WWI, WWII Produced from 1904 to end of World War I, the 18 pounder became the backbone of British divisional artillery. Q.F. List of active duty United States four-star officers, Mk II Gun on High-angle Anti-aircraft mounting, Mk II Gun on Mk I Carriage with armoured oil reservoir on recuperator. By the armistice of November 1918, battlefield tactics involving artillery were changing. After World War I the variety of ammunition was reduced although an armour piercing HE shell was developed. direct fire) with the option of a telescope. The marks of the shell fire can still be seen on the walls of the Four Courts. Its calibre (84 mm) and shell weight were greater than those of the . During the interwar period the 18-pounder formed the basis of early versions of the equally famous Ordnance QF 25 pounder, which would form the basis of the British artillery forces during and after World War II, in much the same fashion as the 18-pounder had during World War I. "Instructions - Artillery Fighting on the Somme - Part II", Major D Hall, December 1973 quotes 1,640ft/s (500m/s), Pages 5 & 6 in "Handbook of the 18-PR. Thank you, your item has been added to the basket. [40] The small bursting range of the shell was an advantage in this case, as advancing troops could approach close to it. Some Royal Horse Artillery batteries were also re-equipped with it as their 13 pounders proved unsuited to the prevalent trench warfare. The 18-pounder long gun was an intermediary calibre piece of naval artillery mounted on warships of the Age of Sail. The design did not enter service.[25]. By the end of World War I the modern "empty battlefield" was evolving, with troops learning to avoid open spaces, and the light field gun was becoming obsolete, with an increasing use of light machine-guns, light mortars and field howitzers which with their high trajectory were able to drop shells onto even deeply sheltered enemy troops on reverse slopes which field guns could not reach. Ian Hogg, "Allied Artillery of World War One", 1998. This allowed the gun's muzzle velocity to be set on it and automatically corrected the range for the difference between the actual muzzle velocity and the standard one. Redistributed by US Army War College August 1917. Validate Bank Details The gunners and officers of Regular Army field artillery batteries were expert at closely supporting the "fire and movement" tactics of the infantry with accurate shrapnel fire. The 2-wheeled ammunition limber was hooked up to the horses and the trail of the gun was hooked up to the limber, so the total weight of the gun and trail were supported on 4 wheels. It formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was produced in large numbers. During the bloodiest year of the war, 1916, 18 Pounder ammunition was mainly shrapnel. The main change was introduction of a new streamlined HE shell, 4/7.5 crh, giving a significant improvement in range. All the same information about fuse types and their purposes that I talked about for shell also applies to case-shot. The Western Front Association is a registered charity in the United Kingdom, no 298365. The gun saw service in every theatre of the Great War. Artillery Part 3: Light Field Guns (75 mm - 84 mm), http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30019943, http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30021771, "18 pdr QF Gun Mk II, Pattern 1904 (ORD 104)", http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30025227, Handbook of the 18-PR. This left the British Army with 126 guns in UK and 130 in the rest of the world, according to a stocktake in July 1940. I remember seeing footage of gun crews going through piles of ammunition. [38] In July 1916 standard contract prices for UK produced shells were 12 shillings and 6 pence (62.5 pence in modern terms) for HE and 18 shillings and 6 pence for shrapnel. Clear. [57][58], In 1919 it served with 7, 16, 21 and 217 Bdes RFA in the Third Afghan War,[59] in operations in Mesopotamia 1920-21, and Waziristan 1936-37. In World War I these were joined by Beardmore, and, in the US, Bethlehem Steel. They were used as main guns on the most typical frigates of the early 19th century, on the second deck of third-rate ships of the line, and even on the third deck of late first-rate ships of the line. [32] In 1916 the decision was taken on the Western Front that all batteries should have six guns. If any battery can no longer effectively stop the enemy from its present position, it will at once move forward to a position on the crest, to engage the enemy over open sights. Above:The 14th Battery of Australian Field Artillery, 5th Field Artillery Brigade,2nd Division, in action near Bellewaarde Lake, in the Ypres Sector. Thank you for sharing. 158. It was used by British Forces in all the main theatres, and by British troops in Russia in 1919. Hi Everyone, I was told on a Trip to the Somme that one of the main problems with breaking the German wire before the Somme Offensive was, that our many 18 pounders, only used Shrapnel Shells ! The 18-pounder Mk IV, with its box trail which allowed it to fire in a high trajectory, had began its evolution into the more versatile 25 pounder gun-howitzer. Home / WW1 1914 -1918 / British Western Front 1916-18 / Field & heavy Artillery / 18 pounder Field gun 18 pounder Field gun 7.00 The classic British army 18 pounder field gun. Field Army Artillery.". View our handy Scale Cannon Size Chart. Until September 1914 the only 18-pounder issued shell was shrapnel, fitted with a No. Its calibre of 84mm and shell weight made it more brutal and destructive than the French 75mm and German 77mm. English: Media relating to the British Ordnance QF 18 pounder (84-mm) field gun of 1904, used in both World Wars. Captured German document by Staff of the 11th A.C., H.Q., Sept 16, 1916. [51], For the opening barrage at the Battle of Menin Road on 20 September the ratio of medium/heavy artillery to field artillery reached 1 - 1.5 for the first time, reflecting more heavy guns rather than fewer field guns. The early versions of 18-pounder anti-aircraft guns remained in service, apparently only in the home defense of Britain. The 18-pounder's role was spelled out following the Somme battles " primarily in barrage fire, repelling attacks in the open, raking communications, wire cutting and sometimes for neutralising guns within their reach, destroying breast-works and barriers with HE and preventing repair work on defenses beyond the reach of infantry weapons"[41], 18-pounder ammunition requirements were predominantly shrapnel during 1916, although in the latter part of the year it shifted back to equality between HE and shrapnel. Anti-Aircraft Artillery, 1914-55", Brassey's, 1994. This modification is visible in many photographs of 18-pdrs in action on the Western Front right up to the end of World War I. Koszalin 14 Day Extended Forecast. The barrage must have been intense. Facts: "British 18 pounder". Manufacturers " initial " or " Trade Mark.". or F.S. The 18-pdr was introduced to the Irish National Army in 1922 on the foundation of the state. Routledge, "History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. [62] At the Battle of Kota Bharu some of the first shots of the Pacific War were fired by an Indian Army manned 18-pounder. In the final year of the war, ammunition requirements were predominantly shrapnel, which then moved back to equal footings between shrapnel and High Explosive. [22] Spring shortages due to breakages meant guns remained in the firing line and had to be "run up" - have the barrel moved forward into its firing position - by hand, hence slowing the rate of fire. [55], For the successful British attack at the Battle of Amiens on 4 July there was one 18-pounder per 25 yards of front, supplemented by machine-guns, and they fired a barrage of 60% shrapnel, 30% HE and 10% smoke 200 yards ahead of the advancing troops. The idea of fixing both shell and cartridge together gave it the term of 'quick firing'. The parallel inside walls of the shell made it suitable for filling using pre-formed blocks of explosive as well as pouring. The gun saw service in every theatre of the Great War. It was used by British and Empire Forces in all the main theatres, and by British troops in Russia in 1919. Beardmore They were used as main guns on the most typical frigates of the early 19th century, on the second deck of third-rate ships of the line, and even on the third deck of late first-rate ships of the line. The Mk I gun and Mk I carriage were accepted into service on 30 June 1904. The 18-pounder continued to be used as a general-purpose light gun in other theatres, such as on Gallipoli where it was manhandled up onto the tops of steep hills such as the "400 Plateau", "Bolton's Hill" and "Russell's Top"[34] because of the lack of a modern mountain gun and shortage of field howitzers. It was introduced into service just before the war started, combining both high-angle and direct-fire . Its calibre (84 mm) and shell weight were greater than those of the . A time fuze was set to initiate the shell in the air in front of the target. Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, World War I artillery of the United Kingdom, World War II artillery of the United Kingdom, Rheinische Metallwaren und Machinenfabrik, South African National Museum of Military History, The Central Museum of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, Finnish Artillery Museum (Suomen tykistmuseo), "THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF 1914-1918 Volume II", Jaeger Platoon: Finnish Army 1918 - 1945. This field gun was a key piece of artillery in the First World War. For maximum effect from the cone of bullets the angle of descent of the shell had to be flat and not plunging. The Mk IV ordnance was modified. Military History Journal - Vol 2 No 5, June 1973, "Field Artillery of the British Army 1860-1960 Part III, 1914-1960" in The South African Military History Society. Mk III carriage was quickly superseded by Mk IV carriage as the standard field carriage. However, the effectiveness of the German fire plan on 21 March caused many casualties amongst the gunners, and in too many case batteries were unable to withdraw before being overrun. First rates carried thirty-four 18-pounders on their third deck and 24-pounders on the middle deck. Its calibre (84mm) and hence shell weight were greater than those of the equivalent field guns in French (75mm) and German (77mm) service. The gun barrel was wire bound nickel-steel with a single-motion screw breech with a cartridge extractor. [42], The January 1917 "Artillery in Offensive Operations" estimated 18-pounders needed 7.5 shrapnel rounds + 5% HE per yard of front at medium range to cut barbed wire defences, and 20 rounds of HE to destroy trenches in enfilade. They were used for wire cutting and most importantly in the creeping barrage where they prevented defenders from manning their trench parapets during a British assault. A driver rode the left horse of each pair. for creeping barrages, due partly to shrapnel directing its force forward hence being safer for those following especially if it fell short. Brigade or group commanders should be given a task and allowed to carry it out". In 1914 the standard HE used by UK artillery was Lyddite, a formulation based on picric acid, this was a powerful explosive but expensive. Sun & Moon. Ordnance is an all encompassing term that refers to mounted guns, artillery and other related weaponry. 18-pounders were to fire 50%-50% shrapnel and HE with 25% of the HE fuzes set to delay. recoil: 41inches fixed (carriage Mk I, II); 26 - 48inches variable (carriage Mk IV, Mk V), Elevation: -5 to +16 (carriage Mk I & II with pole trail), +30 (carriage Mk III box trail), +37, Traverse: 4.5 left and right (Carriage Mk I - IV); 25 left and right (carriage Mk V), Gunshield: proof against shrapnel and rifle fire (500 yds), Mk 2 gun on Mk 2 carriage with pneumatic tyres (Finnish 84 K/18) on display at the. Nevertheless on 4 April the Germans made their final attempt to break the British line having advanced to the area of Villers Bretonneux held by 14th and 18th Divisions, reinforced by the 16th and 39th divisional artilleries although batteries were understrength through losses. After introduction of rifled artillery in the middle 19th century, long 18-pounders were converted into so-called "14 cm n 1 rifled muzzle-loaders Model 1864", by etching grooves on the inside of the barrel.[3][4]. This 18-pounder field gun shell case fired the last shot towards the Olive Grove, on Gallipoli, before the final evacuation of Australian troops in December 1915. In 1900 General Sir Henry Brackenbury, the then Director-General of Ordnance, sent officers to visit European gun makers. We will check that your account details are correct and that your bank account will allow direct debits. Brigadier-General Edward Harding-Newman, CRA of 14 Division issued the following order "This attack must and can be stopped by artillery fire. In the latter part of the war component assemblies were produced by various other companies. [30] Limited production of both guns and carriages continued between the wars and some carriages for use with 25-pdr Mk 1 were produced in the early part of World War II. Gun Detachment Roles Sorted by: 15. [45] British regular army field gunners were already proficient in accurately timed low shrapnel bursts in 1914, as demonstrated in the early battles, but few remained by early 1917 and many gunners were relatively new recruits and inexperienced; HE had only been in use with 18-pounders for two years, so this note perhaps reflects a desire to stick with a proven method for which they could still draw on a nucleus of experts. Technical notes on 18 pounder Barrages. The first trial high-explosive TNT rounds were fired in action on 31 October 1914 by 70th Battery, 34th Brigade RFA and 54th Battery, 39th Brigade RFA on the Ypres front and were quite successful, demonstrating both that they could destroy enemy guns and kill troops. By November 1918, there were 3,162 18 Pounders in service on the Western Front and the gun had fired in total 99,397,670 rounds. This used the Armstrong gun, Vickers' recoil system, and Royal Ordnance Factory's sighting and elevating gear and ammunition carrying. A solid white metal casting. Please select your address from the list below; No results found, please manually enter your address. Fire from several RFA brigades mostly with 18-pounder batteries stepped the German advance, including some from 16 Division that deployed forward to the crest and observers from 177 Brigade RFA using Hamel church tower. Subsequently, with batteries being hidden, Observation Officer Casualties were high. During World War One, the 18 pounder was the standard field gun on all fronts and was praised for its lethal effectiveness. In its February 1917 Technical Notes on 18 pounder Barrages, GHQ stated shrapnel and HE barrages would normally cover to a depth of 200 yards and expressed its preference for timed shrapnel (T.S.) [53], A total of 47,992,000 18-pounder rounds were manufactured in 1917 and 38,068,000 were fired,[54] (38% of its total for the whole war) indicating the extent to which the artillery war escalated in 1917. In the Mk IVA the A tube and wire were replaced by an autofrettaged loose liner. British heavy artillery was expected to attack fortifications, requiring high-explosive shells to penetrate the target to some extent before exploding. From then on Britain increasingly supplied 18-pounders with high-explosive shells. It was a heavy calibre for early ships of the line, arming, for instance, the main batteries of Couronne in 1636. HE without delay was assessed as effective only if it burst actually in the enemy trench. Privacy Policy, The 18 pounder could fire shells of high explosives of between 4.6kg and 8.4kg, The 18 pounder had 84mm calibre and a greater shell weight than its German and French equivalent, By August 1914, the British Army had 1,226 18 pounders, By the end of the war, the army had 9,424 18 pounders. 3 February 1918. At Gallipoli in 1915, 18 Pounders were manhandled to the tops of 400 Plateau and Russells Top. 18-pounder Guns served with the British Expeditionary Force in France in the Second World War and were used in other theatres as well as for training or beach defence. Farndale 1986, pg/ 150. Major-General Sir John Headlam, "The History of the Royal Artillery - from the Indian Mutiny to the Great War", Volume II (18991914), Royal Artillery Institution (Woolwich), 1937. 11" x 17". The shell did not burst, but projected spherical lead-antimony bullets forward in a cone, these bullets were effective up to 300 yards from the burst. The new single-motion "Asbury breech" allowed for higher rates of fire and a Welin tapered screw adopted for the breech. 18-pounder ammunition requirements in 1917 were generally equal quantities of shrapnel and HE. Shrapnel appears to have been favoured for creeping barrages and a mix of shrapnel and HE for standing barrages and other tasks. This browser does not support inline PDFs. The original gun design was quickly replaced in production from 1906 by the "rationalized" Mark II gun for ease of relining: the exterior of the inner "A" tube was slightly tapered, and was inserted into a matching tapered jacket by hydraulic pressure.[18]. Guns fire a heavy shell on a relatively level trajectory from a longer barrel, allowing for very high muzzle velocity and good range performance. A single battery of the Mk IV gun on the early Mk III carriage was serving with 4th Army when the First World War ended. Identified, left to right, foreground: Corporal Nixon; Gnr (Gnr) Fosberg (Forsberg? 18-pounders alone are calculated to have fired almost 100 million rounds. 1 (the detachment commander, a Sergeant) on his own horse. denoting whether the casing is made from Cast or Forged Steel. Terry Gander, "The British 18-pounder QF Field Gun". [29] UK production was by Armstrong Whitworth, Vickers and Woolwich Ordnance factory. The two wheeled ammunition limber was hooked up to the horses and the trail of the gun was hooked to the limber. Contents 1 Usage Quoting the plan issued by Major-General Uniacke, MGRA 5th Army on 30th June 1917. This was a different shape to the existing shrapnel shell so a new Mark 2 shrapnel shell was introduced to ensure ballistic compatibility. However, the first month of World War I showed that they were worth having and the first HE rounds arrived in September 1914. Specifications: Crew: 6 Caliber: 83.8mm (3.3 in . It was used in East Africa by British and South African regiments,[60][61] the North African Campaign, in the Far East until replaced by the 25-pounder, especially in Malaya where a number of British Field Regiments had them and by 965 Beach Defence Battery in Hong Kong. It was first used by National Army Gunners to bombard the Four Courts in Dublin from 28 June 1922, as part of the Battle of Dublin. 4 - Artillery in Offensive Operations, January 1917. Introduction of a new streamlined shell, Mk 1C, with a 4/7.5 crh increased maximum range to 11,100 yards with Mks III, IV and V carriages.[28]. From 1917, all divisions were standardised with two artillery brigades each with three batteries (A, B, C) of six 18 Pounders and one battery of six 4.5 inch howitzers. Browse our ordnance products below and be sure to check our store frequently . Farndale 1986, pg. 197. They could be filled with high explosive, shrapnel, poison gas, incendiary, or smoke. Vickers [citation needed] Primacy of neutralizing defenders became the distinguishing characteristic of British artillery for the remainder of the 20th Century. 12,253 m (13,400 yd) (HE shell) Sights. . Some examples remain preserved, including several in Collins Barracks, Cork, in Mc Kee Barracks, Dublin and two Mk IV guns in Aiken Barracks Dundalk. Brigadier N.W. This type of munition was very commonly used (and with great effect) during the Civil War, and you'll see it mentioned in official battle reports from both artillery and infantry commanders . It is essential that the artillery hold the line and they will do so." Starting in 1938, carriages Marks IV and V were converted to 25 Pounder Ordnance QF Mark 1 on Carriage Mark 1. The Ordnance QF 18 Pounder gun imparted a right-hand spin to each shell causing a spin drift to the right. In fact, the gun was so successful that it was used until 1942, having been significantly advanced in 1930 by the introduction of mechanisation. Starting in 1938, Mk IV and V carriages were used for the new Ordnance QF 25-pdr Mk 1. Fourth-rate ships carried 26 on their secondary batteries, and third rates carried 28. Throughout World War One, the 18 Pounder was operated by the Royal Field Artillery, and in some cases, the Royal Horse Artillery. At the beginning of WW1, the normal projectile was an airburst . 6 crew working this model gun in fatigues with Helmets, solar topee's or Field service caps also available. This rare book was discovered and scanned by members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group (CEFSG) as part of the MATRIX Projectfor the use of all persons researching the Great War. Time Zone. However, the 18-pounder entered service with rocking bar (also called "bar and drum") sights - open sights with the option of a telescope on the left and a range scale (in yards) on the right of the cradle. Q.F. DST Changes. V Plskow, "Instructions - Artillery Fighting on the Somme - Part II". Reduced wheel size from 5ft (1.5m) to 4ft 8in (1.42m) was also accepted (it had been a matter the Equipment Committee had to investigate) which saved weight.
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